For our annual Rock 'n' Roll Poll, we once again dialed up a select group of Nashville's finest rockers, rollers, bloggers and bookers, and asked them what got their attention — good and bad — in the local scene this year.
Sturgill Simpson
What local artist/band ruled Nashville in 2014?
Sturgill Simpson. -Reece Lazarus, Jerry Pentecost, Margo Price, John Strohm
Nikki Lane, Sturgill Simpson. -Caitlin Rose
This was Sturgill Simpson's breakout year. How many opening acts get a standing ovation at the Ryman? -Beville Dunkerley
Sturgill Simpson ruled Nashville and beyond. Safe to say that Our Savior Simpson's rule is in its infancy. -Seth Riddle
Bully
Bully. They didn't need to win Road to Bonnaroo for them to play Bonnaroo in the same year. -Jared Corder
Diarrhea Planet. -Jesse Baker, Matthew Bell, John Bruton, Drew Mischke, Chris Sunday
PUJOL. -Coco Hames
Music Band. -Casey Weissbuch
Music Band. -Jamin Orrall
Sturgill Simpson, Brandy Clark. -Joseph Hudak
L'Orange. -Rickey Mindlin
All Them Witches. -Stu Walker
Thelma and the Sleaze, Steelism. -Beth Cameron
Derek Hoke, Shy Guy, Margo and the Price Tags, Los Colognes. -Todd Sherwood
Paperhead, Sturgill Simpson, Steelism, The Dead Deads, Cory Chisel, Bully, Wild Feathers, My So-Called Band, Cherub. Shit tons of locals ruled. Above all, Jason Isbell. -Mike Grimes
Bully, although they ruled more than Nashville; Alanna Royale is in full force representing the Nashville neo-soul scene; and you can never beat the party fun feelz of a JEFF the Brotherhood or Diarrhea Planet show. -Brooke Ivey
Ruled as in actually doing something cool with their lives? Bully. Ruled as in yeah, that dude fuckin' rules? RI¢HIE. -Doug Lehmann
Jack White — lest I be accused of stacking the deck for my employer on this poll. I saw JW play some of the best shows of his life this year; his band is one of the most talented and idiosyncratic groups of characters in town, and his approach to album campaigns and touring is still hardcore independent no matter what size venue he is playing. -Ben Swank
C RO, Darlins, PUJY, Natty Child, B CLOUD, JEFF the BRO HOOD, WILLY T, Evan P'DONNY, DP, Sturgy SIMPS, Adia V, D WATOOTS, P'LAND SIZZY, JON C DAWG, PENCILLIN BB and all the other song-slinging road warriors I forgot to mention. -Tristen
The Grateful Greaser Moustache Group (featuring Coke Money on Leathers). -Jeremy Ferguson
Umbrella Tree. -Chris Crofton
What local artist/band is going to rule in 2015?
Taylor Swift. -Jamin Orrall
Mikky Ekko. -Chris Sunday
Mike Floss. -Ben Swank
Mike Floss. If the kid gets beats to rival his flow and live show, Nashville may have its first-ever homegrown hip-hop star. -Seth Riddle
Bully. -Doug Lehmann
Jawws. –Jesse Baker
ELEL. -Jared Corder
Tristen or I will eat my hat. -Caitlin Rose
Fly Golden Eagle. -John Bruton
Nikki Lane. -Jerry Pentecost
All Them Witches. -Stu Walker
The Paperhead, Promised Land Sound, JP5 and PUJOL again! -Coco Hames
ELEL, Music Band, meme rap (the genre?). -Brooke Ivey
Churchyard. Adia Victoria, Natalie Prass. -Beth Cameron
D. Watusi. –Casey Weissbuch
Future Unlimited. -Drew Mischke
Petty. -Rickey Mindlin
The Cadillac Three; Chris Janson. Both put on live shows that are without peer: TC3 revives rock-star bravado, Janson is Jerry Lee Lewis crossed with Bocephus. -Joseph Hudak
It's great to see how fast things are happening for Bully, they just rule. How I Became the Bomb, Fly Golden Eagle and Mikky Ekko — it should be a busy year for all of them. I'm really looking forward to the new one by Andrew Combs, too. -Matthew Bell
Turbo Fruits, if you listen to that record I did with good ol' Matt Legge and you like rock. -Jeremy Ferguson
Linear Downfall, Blank Range, Natural Child. -Mike Grimes
The White Lighters. -Todd Sherwood
Natalie Prass, Yautja, Turbo Fruits. -Reece Lazarus
Anderson East. -Kent Marcus
Josh Hedley. -Margo Price
The Whistles and the Bells. -John Strohm
Umbrella Tree. -Chris Crofton
What was your favorite discovery this year?
Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear. -Kent Marcus
Peter Stringer-Hye. -Casey Weissbuch
FMRL Arts Collective. -Beth Cameron
Mike Floss. -Seth Riddle
Clear Plastic Masks. -Caitlin Rose
D. Watusi's new songs and new live set. Everything I like at once. –Daniel Pujol
Kentucky duo Sundy Best. Their shows at Exit/In were joyous celebrations of simple, honest country music. -Joseph Hudak
Maren Morris. With a great cut on Tim McGraw's new album, she's the next big thing in the songwriting world — and with her unique, intoxicating voice, hopefully in the recording world as well. -Beville Dunkerley
Trinity Schill Kill, That's My Kid, Sexx — young bands with more hooks than a tackle box. -Matthew Bell
Jawws. -Chris Sunday
Robbie Basho. -Jamin Orrall
Idle Bloom, Jawws. -Stu Walker
Blank Range. -John Bruton
Western Medication. -Mike Grimes
Ariel Bui. -Coco Hames
All Them Witches. -John Strohm
Serration Pulse. -Dillon Watson
Cory Branan, The No Hit Wonder. -Margo Price
Jawws, Devan DuBois, Future Unlimited. -Brooke Ivey
The White Lighters, The Saturday Night Specials. -Todd Sherwood
Fielded's video for "Reign." –Jesse Baker
Bourbon. As far as bands, Penicillin Baby (although I'm late to the game). -Jared Corder
Brainfreeze Comics. -Reece Lazarus
Roots of a Rebellion. -Rickey Mindlin
Pressure cookers, lights, jamming, Irma Thomas, Pylon, Carl Sandburg, Nick Cave, cocaine, bongos, Neil Young's Trans and Herbie Hancock's Sunlight. -Tristen
Cookout coming to town! Now there's a fast food place for musicians to eat late after playing all night. And Aaron Lee Tasjan! -Jerry Pentecost
That it's OK to stay home and watch Netflix. -Doug Lehmann
Email. -Chris Crofton
Best/worst band breakup of the year?
Space Capone (not sure if that is official). -Chris Sunday
No Regrets Coyote. –Casey Weissbuch
Leather Nightmare. -Reece Lazarus, Dillon Watson
Sucks that Shy Guy broke up. -Brooke Ivey
I was bummed that Satan's Dong broke up, because I love doo-wop. -Chris Crofton
Worst: No Regrets Coyote. Best: Buffalo Clover, and I only say that because the main staples have found a much more comfortable footing with Margo and the Price Tags. –Jesse Baker
Worst: Buffalo Clover (making room for Margo and the Price Tags). Also sad to see Tipper Whore, The Joy of Painting and Pretty Ugly call it quits. Best: The Civil Wars? I think they broke up this year? Maybe? -Jared Corder
Best/worst: Buffalo Clover. And whatever happened to Luella and the Sun? -Margo Price
Ponychase. -Beth Cameron
Brandon Jazz and myself with Mercy Lounge or Ponychase, if it has to be band-specific. -Drew Mischke
Do bands still break up? I thought they just started playing with other people ... -Caitlin Rose
Voter sanity in relation to Proposition 1. -Jeremy Ferguson
Guided By Voices and Joy of Painting. -Mike Grimes
Guided by Voices ... cost me a show from my favorite band. -John Bruton
I don't think any bands broke up but a few dozen moved here. -Matthew Bell
Worst: Brandon Jazz and His Armed Forces. -Jerry Pentecost
Worst: Natural Lion. -Jamin Orrall
Totally Snake. -Todd Sherwood
Best music story of the Year?
The rescue of RCA Studio A. -Joseph Hudak, Jerry Pentecost
Sturgill Simpson. - John Strohm, Chris Sunday
Jason Isbell selling out three nights at the Ryman. -Mike Grimes
"Sad Dads at One Direction," Nashville Cream -Reece Lazarus, Caitlin Rose
Jack White grumpy at baseball game. -Jamin Orrall
Hans Condor getting back together! -Coco Hames
Walker Mimms graduates; Paperhead are a real band again. -Dillon Watson
Watching The 5 Spot staff and regulars performing on all of the late-night shows seemed to be a regular event, which was awesome. -Todd Sherwood
Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally's win for CMA Song of the Year (for Musgraves' "Follow Your Arrow") not only honored wickedly clever lyrics but also opened country music's doors as wide as they should be. -Beville Dunkerley
It's hard to diversify Lower Broad beyond country cover bands, and seeing Carl Gatti & Co. bringing everything from reggae to rock to Boom Bap to The Flying Burrito Brothers to Acme Feed and Seed is a welcomed change. -Jared Corder
My friend Jim Skinner is a blind blues singer who has little money and is relatively unknown. He recorded an album at The Bomb Shelter this year. Andrija Tokic (along with all of the musicians) worked and played on it for free. I can't wait until it comes out. -Margo Price
I saw Promised Land Sound play live fresh out of recording a new record and their stylistic and songwriting jump was massive. Really excited to hear that record and see where they go with it. -Ben Swank
Larry Kloess' house shows; Nashville's own Lenore Kinder being nominated for Talent Buyer of the Year in the upcoming Pollstar Live Awards. -Drew Mischke
Shameless self-promotion: Show This! Also, Mary Mancini running for State Senate. -Beth Cameron
All those bands giving all their money to worthy causes instead of fucking $500 shirts. Seriously, you're just gonna get local designer ketchup or vegan pomade on it and feel sad. -Jeremy Ferguson
That no matter how many invaders relocate here, there are still only two good bands existing at any given time and one of those remains Hans Condor. -Seth Riddle
"From Cease & Desist to Apple Checks: The Amerigo Gazaway Story."Â -Rickey Mindlin
Some guy named Mark Rutman took my job on Nashville. -John Bruton
Any of Chris Crofton's advice columns. -Jesse Baker
Chris Crofton moving to L.A. and scoring a walk-on role on How I Met Your Mother. -Doug Lehmann
The American Medical Association recognized "Grohl's Syndrome." Sufferers can't stop yelling, "Here we go!" in the middle of songs. -Chris Crofton
The dong in that Cherub video. -Matthew Bell
Steelism ... in general. - Casey Weissbuch
"ClubLand," Nashville Scene -Brooke Ivey
Brantley Gilbert pulling his songs off Spotify. -Kent Marcus
I don't know, but I'm sure it's about vinyl, Spotify, Taylor Swift or Dave Grohl. –Tristen
I mean, I guess Jack White vs. The Black Keys, but who really gives a shit? -Stu Walker
What trend would you like to see left behind in 2015?
#BasicBitch. -Beth Cameron
Trust-fall stage dives. -Dillon Watson
New acoustic bands formed on a porch that want to play on a stage with their instruments that have no pickups and don't know how to play into a microphone. -Todd Sherwood
Local bands over-playing, STRATEGIZE! –Jesse Baker
Four-band bills that start at 10:30 (this isn't Memphis). -Doug Lehmann
The term "garage rock." -Casey Weissbuch
People saying that an artist "killed it." -Kent Marcus
People using loop pedals and calling themselves bands, and people shooting concerts with fucking phones. -Mike Grimes
Smartphones. -Jamin Orrall
Two Hats. -Coco Hames
Singers (and other non-drummers) playing floor toms. I wouldn't mind if it had been left behind a few years ago actually. -Matthew Bell
I don’t know, but I’m stoked about the impending 2015 trend of "condo shows." No one will ever run out of places to play. -Caitlin Rose
Loud chatter during performances. Nashville has a reputation for being chatty. -Jerry Pentecost
Super Pro Tools robot-compression mixing style for even the world's top talent. Save that style for college assignments, and don't expect newer or contemporary bands to mix or make records that sound like perfect smooth hairless paramilitary angel babies in a sterile harmonic infinity vacuum. –Daniel Pujol
Nashvillians sticking to the same old thing. And let's not forget the many, many artists being priced out of their rental houses. -Brooke Ivey
Tiny budgets for my superior staring skills. Huge budgets for my murder skills (please don't make me kill again). -Jeremy Ferguson
Complaining about all of the new people, i.e. potential new fans, ticket buyers, etc., moving to Nashville. -Drew Mischke
RebelCore: Southern-Rock-Outlaw-Revivalists. The Look: rural county fair circa '81. The Sound: the Eagles, if the Eagles weren't so weird and edgy. -Seth Riddle
Bike accidents. At least Bono will always have one good arm to hold us with. -Joseph Hudak
Male artists in tank tops. We get it, you have guns. Now please put some sleeves on. -Beville Dunkerley
Guys wearing vests. -John Strohm
Men rolling up their pants in order to showcase their goddamn ankles. -Chris Crofton
I'm going to say "irony" again this year. -Ben Swank
Poetry and spoken word. -John Bruton
Sorry everyone, Spotify is here to stay, get used to it. -Jared Corder
Police brutality, gentrification, nostalgia, Americana hatz and the wheel. -Tristen
Taylor Swift. -Chris Sunday
Who deserves more coverage than they got in 2014?
Jawwwwwwws. I love them. I want them to have as much coverage as they have unnecessary consonants in their name. -Ben Swank
Western Medication. - Casey Weissbuch
Ranch Ghost. -Chris Sunday
Penicillin Baby, Chrome Pony, Honey Locust. -Reece Lazarus
Patrick Sweany. -Margo Price
Tristen, William Tyler. -Beth Cameron
How can I answer that question when you have the nerve to ask? -Tristen
Brothers Osborne should've been on a lot more "best new artist" lists. They are true musicians who are bringing a fresh sound to country music. -Beville Dunkerley
Charlie Worsham, who can help right the ship that is Nashville country and take it into the future. -Joseph Hudak
Jamie Lidell. He snuck in on little kitten feet (dressed like Basquiat) and uses this fair town to launch his beautiful, electro-soul assaults. -Seth Riddle
Tyler Walker and Queen Ave. –Daniel Pujol
The Paperhead. -Coco Hames
Patrick Sweany. -Jerry Pentecost
Foreign Fields. -John Strohm
Thelma and the Sleaze. -Jesse Baker
G.E.D. Soul. -Rickey Mindlin
Quichenight, Thelma and the Sleaze. Probably everyone. Cover everyone every day. -Jeremy Ferguson
Quichenight, Ole Mossy Face, Jasmin Kaset, Meadownoise. -Doug Lehmann
Birdcloud and Music Band. -Mike Grimes
Trinity Schill Kill, NORM, Sexx, the dong in that Cherub video. -Matthew Bell
Connor Cummins, Miller Rich, Kathryn Edwards. -Dillon Watson
Tim Carroll, Slick, The Gills, The White Lighters. -Todd Sherwood
Tyler Walker and everything he's doing with the Queen Ave. Art Collective, Meth Dad, Body of Light, etc. -Drew Mischke
Queen Ave. Art Collective. -Brooke Ivey
Any city other than Nashville. They deserve all the coverage ... and condos. -Jared Corder
Whoever wants it. -Caitlin Rose
Brandon Jazz, the man who brought poetry and spoken word to Nashville. -John Bruton
Kindercastle. -Chris Crofton
What was your favorite local record of 2014?
Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. -John Bruton, Seth Riddle, Caitlin Rose
Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music; Kelsey Waldon, The Goldmine. -Joseph Hudak
Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music; Patrick Sweany, Closer to the Floor. - Margo Price
PUJOL
PUJOL, KLUDGE. -Jesse Baker
PUJOL, KLUDGE; The Paperhead, Africa Avenue. -Coco Hames
Steelism, 615 to FAME. -Todd Sherwood
Jasmin Kaset, Quiet Machine. -Doug Lehmann
William Tyler, Lost Colony EP. -Ben Swank, Dillon Watson
Music Band, Can I Live? -Reece Lazarus
Justin Collins, Home, Boy EP; Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music; PUJOL, KLUDGE. -Tristen
PUJOL, KLUDGE; Quichenight, Room Temperature. -Jeremy Ferguson
The Paperhead, Africa Avenue. -Jamin Orrall, Casey Weissbuch
Fly Golden Eagle
Clear Plastic Masks, Being There; Fly Golden Eagle, Quartz Bijou. -Chris Sunday
The Apache Relay, The Apache Relay. -Jared Corder
JP Harris, Home Is Where the Hurt Is. -Jerry Pentecost
Ponychase, Parade of Youth. -Beth Cameron
All Them Witches, Lightning at the Door. -Stu Walker
Quichenight, Room Temperature; Natural Child, Dancin' With Wolves. -Daniel Pujol
All Them Witches, Lightning at the Door; Fly Golden Eagle, Quartz Bijou; Alanna Royale, Achilles; The Wans, He Said, She Said. -Brooke Ivey
Listen to Jessi Alexander's outstanding Down Home, and you'll realize it's a crime she gives her songs away. -Beville Dunkerley
How I Became the Bomb album record, Narcissus — it's actually not quite out yet, but the EP, Adonis, is a superb preview! -Drew Mischke
Amerigo Gazaway, Yasiin Gaye. -Rickey Mindlin
Diarrhea Planet, Aliens in the Outfield EP;Â PUJOL, KLUDGE; Tesla Rossa, Tesla Rossa. -Matthew Bell
Satan's Dong, Four-Part Dong. -Chris Crofton
Best show of 2014?
The last of Jason Isbell's three nights at the Ryman — with Sturgill Simpson as the opening performer — was awe-inspiring. -Beville Dunkerley
Sturgill Simpson at the Ryman. -Todd Sherwood
Jason Isbell's Ryman residency feat. Amanda Shires, St. Paul and the Broken Bones & Sturgill Simpson. -John Strohm
JEFF the Brotherhood three-night stand at The End. -Jesse Baker
Paul McCartney at Bridgestone Arena; Live On the Green feat. City and Colour, The Weeks & Spanish Gold. –Kent Marcus, Chris Sunday
King Brothers w/Hans Condor at Fond Object — craziest show I've ever seen. Also, JEFF the Brotherhood at Dino's. -Coco Hames
The Black Keys at Mercy Lounge. -John Bruton
Cherub at Cannery; The Black Keys at Mercy Lounge. -Drew Mischke
The Black Keys at Mercy Lounge; Ty Segall at Mercy Lounge; Foxy Shazam at Exit/In. -Matthew Bell
Brendan Benson and Friends at the Ryman was a very special evening. -Seth Riddle
Quichenight at Fond Object; The Dutchess and the Duke at Third Man Records; Reigning Sound at Mercy Lounge. -Doug Lehmann
Tori Amos at the Ryman; PUJOL w/Screaming Females at The Stone Fox; Amendment 1 Benefit feat. Take the Power Back at Exit/In. -Beth Cameron
Timber Timbre at Exit/In; Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Bonnaroo; Tacocat w/Idle Bloom at Stone Fox. -Stu Walker
Hardly anyone was there, but Greg Ashley played Fond Object's Gypsy House with John Brothers Piano Company and Dillon Watson opening, and it felt like an old-school rent party. -Ben Swank
Americana Honors and Awards ceremony at the Ryman. Loretta Lynn, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, Jason Isbell, Stu, Hurray for the Riff Raff. It doesn't get much better than that. -Margo Price
Robert Ellis and Friends at Robert's during AmericanaFest. -Jerry Pentecost
Night three of Freakin' Weekend V. -Dillon Watson
Miley Cyrus at Bridgestone Arena. -Brooke Ivey
Self solo at Grimey's. -Mike Grimes
Lauryn Hill at Bonnaroo, Beck at Forecastle, Nick Cave at Bonnaroo, Caitlin Rose at the Grand Ole Opry, Jessica Lea Mayfield at Mercy Lounge. -Tristen
Bonnie Prince Billy and Willy T. at 3rd & Lindsley. It’s still fresh in my memory and it was perfect. -Caitlin Rose
Was Dana Fest 2 at FooBar THIS year? That show was so much damn fun. -Casey Weissbuch
Splashville at The Crying Wolf. Escondido and water slides is an amazing mix. -Jared Corder
Almost any show I saw Lee Bains and the Glory Fires play; Kings of the F***King Sea at The Basement; PUJOL at Freakin' Weekend was pretty unbeatable. -Jeremy Ferguson
Alice Cooper's surprise gig at Dan McGuinness. With four classic-rock covers and his own "School's Out," the 66-year-old proved that rock still lives — even after being guillotined while opening for Mötley Crüe at the Bridgestone a few hours earlier. -Joseph Hudak
Big & Rich at Maggiano's. -Chris Crofton
Respondents:
Jesse Baker: talent buyer, Exit/In
Matthew Bell: general manager, Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom and The High Watt
John Bruton: talent buyer, Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom and The High Watt
Beth Cameron: musician, Ponychase and Forget Cassettes; co-founder, Show This
Jared Corder: musician, Repeat Repeat; curator, East Nashville Underground
Chris Crofton: comedian; columnist, Chris Crofton Advice King; musician, Chris Crofton and the Alcohol Stuntband
Beville Dunkerley: senior editor, Rolling Stone Country
Jeremy Ferguson: producer/engineer/proprietor, Battle Tapes Recording
Mike Grimes: co-owner, Grimey's New & Preloved Music and The Basement; musician, Guilty Pleasures
Coco Hames: singer-songwriter, The Ettes and The Parting Gifts; owner, Fond Object Records
Joseph Hudak: senior editor, Rolling Stone Country
Brooke Ivey: coordinator, writer/publisher relations, BMI
Reece Lazarus: bassist, Bully; booker The Stone Fox
Doug Lehmann: singer-guitarist, Mystery Twins; blogger, We Own This Town
Kent Marcus: partner, Marcus & Colvin, entertainment law firm
Rickey Mindlin: executive producer, Amerigo Gazaway's partner, former Gummy Soul label manager
Drew Mischke: co-founder, Show This
Jamin Orrall: drummer, JEFF the Brotherhood
Jerry Pentecost: musician, drummer at large
Margo Price: musician, Margo and the Price Tags
Daniel Pujol: PUJOL
Seth Riddle: general manager, Serpents and Snakes Records
Caitlin Rose: musician
John Strohm: senior counsel, Loeb & Loeb LLP, entertainment law firm
Chris Sunday: manager, Bedlam Music Management
Ben Swank: co-founder, Third Man Records; drummer, The Ultras S/C; DJ, Dorker Vibes
Todd Sherwood: honcho, The 5 Spot
Tristen: musician
Stu Walker: agent, The Agency Group
Dillon Watson: blogger, Nashville's Dead; musician, D. Watusi, Circle K, Savoy Motel
Casey Weissbuch: drummer, Diarrhea Planet
Email Music@nashvillescene.com
